Message from Revd Philip Goggin regarding his Retirement.
Following discussions within the Diocese of Chester I need to let folks know that I will be retiring 19th July this year, the day before my 74th birthday. The Bishop has to renew my licence each year from birthday to birthday, and he (now the Acting Bishop of Chester, Bishop Keith Sinclair) believes it should not be renewed again. One significant factor must be my age (I am the oldest fulltime vicar in the diocese!) but also I have made an error of judgement which has been brought to the Bishop’s attention.
I will have been in post in Minshull Vernon for 13 years, and at Warmingham for nearly 9. I don’t expect many people expected us to be here this long. Services in church will, of course, continue without me, though I suspect some changes may need to be made. Baptisms, weddings, funerals will go ahead using visiting clergy. Nobody can go on forever. I have been wondering when would be the best time to retire, so in one sense I am grateful the decision has been taken out of my hands.
Gail and I will be very sorry to leave, but we won’t disappear completely, though I will have to stop taking services for a period after retirement. Gail may continue to assist in parish life, as she does now. But that is a matter for discussion another day.
We have greatly appreciated the huge support we have had from folks while we have been here. The church may be a physical building, and the parish may be a geographical location, but it is the people who are the true church.
